July 26, 1930 - May 1, 2024
Betty Lou Kelso, nee Betty Lou King, passed away on May 1, 2024, at the age of 93 in Lodi, California. She was born on July 26, 1930, in Northview Missouri. Betty was a loving, strong-willed, welcoming, and generous individual with a great sense of humor.
Betty was raised on a farm in Northview. After her family home burned down while she was in high school, she and her family moved to California. The family eventually settled in Turlock where she met her future husband, Robert A. Kelso. After they were married, they moved to San Francisco. Moving to ever larger homes as the family grew, they eventually bought a home in the Sunset district. After sons Bob and Mike went off to college the family moved to Stockton where Betty would live for the next 53 years. Robert passed away in 1992.
Betty enjoyed family get togethers which were always lively events often with 35 or more family members attending. One of her favorite places was Lake Tahoe where she enjoyed visiting in the summer around her birthday. She enjoyed reading and word puzzles. She was an avid fan of the soap opera, General Hospital, and a loyal fan of the San Francisco Giants Baseball team.
Betty raised five boys and later worked at Campbell’s Department Store in Stockton. She will be dearly missed by: Robert D. (Bob) Kelso (son), Marcy Wheeler (daughter-in-law), Michael (Mike) Kelso (son), Nancy Kelso (daughter-in-law), Kevin Kelso (son), Linda Kelso (daughter-in-law), Kim Kelso (son), Monique Kelso (daughter-in-law), Craig Kelso (son), Kathy Kelso (daughter-in-law). She was very proud of her grandchildren - Logan Kelso, Megan Kelso, Chris Kelso, Steven Kelso, Brenton Kelso, Elizabeth Kelso, Katelyn Galvin, Emily Kelso, Cameron Kelso, Jennifer Baker, Amy Cosens, Lindsay Tax; and great grandchildren-Jude Kelso, Henrik Kelso, Kailyn Kelso, Riley Baker, Brody Baker, Norah Baker, Regan Galvin, Jack Galvin, Presley Cosens, Onyx Wade and Serenity Wade. She is also survived by her siblings Bill King, Bob King, Jim King, J.D. King, and Ellen (Bonnelle) Adcock.
Betty was preceded in death by her mother Fleeta King, father Charles (Poppy) King, husband Robert A. Kelso, siblings Paul King and Minnie Adcock, and grandson Steven Kelso.
Services will be held at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240 at 1 PM on May 17th 2024. Contributions in Betty’s memory can be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Please leave your condolences below.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Kelso family.
